Well-being vs. Wellbeing vs. Well Being

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

The English language is dynamic, and some words form new spellings over time. One good example is well-being or wellbeing,

Is wellbeing one word or two? And should you add a hyphen or not? Keep reading to know the correct spelling and how to spell it in the UK, USA, and Canada. You’ll also learn how to use the word in a sentence.

The hyphenated term well-being is the correct term and not wellbeing or well being. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the noun well-being as the state of being healthy, happy, or prosperous. Separately, well is an adjective, while being is a verb or a noun. It’s necessary to add a hyphen to form a noun.

Which is Correct? Wellbeing or Well-Being

You already know that well-being is the correct term. Well is an adjective that means in a good way, while being can be a verb or noun. It’s not a compound adjective because it cannot modify another noun. Instead, it’s a noun that refers to the condition of being well.

  • I’ve been on hiatus because my well-being isn’t at its best.
  • Do diet and sleep affect health and well-being?

As a bonus trivia, you can only join two words with different parts of speech through a hyphen. That’s a significant clue that the spelling of the noun well-being is correct. 

Use well-being when discussing physical and mental health, happiness, and other emotional and psychological aspects of life.

Wellbeing is a misspelling of the hyphenated term. Some writers have been using the one-word version, such as the New York Time bestseller WellBeing: The Five Essential Elements by Rath and Harter. But some dictionaries still do not recognize it.

Another misspelling of well-being is well being. It’s only correct if you use it in a sentence like this example:

  • Robert Pattinson did well being Batman in the new movie. 

Is it Wellbeing or Well-Being in the UK?

Both well-being and wellbeing are used in British English. However, wellbeing is more popular. Some spell check devices accept wellbeing, while others don’t. It also appears in several texts, such as The Sun and Sunday Times. 

Is it Wellbeing or Well-Being in Canada?

Many people also wonder, is wellbeing one word or two in Canada. The hyphenated version well-being is more popular. And it’s a hyphen, not an em dash. This form is more common in North America, whereas well being is used in the UK, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.

How Do You Use Well-Being in a Sentence?

Well-being is usually used on persons or a group of people since it means the state of being healthy, happy, or prosperous.

  • Healthcare workers are responsible for the health and well-being of all patients.
  • Being accountable for your mistakes is a simple way to improve your well-being.
  • Boost your confidence by prioritizing your emotional well-being.
  • I applaud teachers who care about their student’s well-being.
  • Painting is suitable for your well-being. 
  • Watering the plants and leaving them under the sunlight will improve their well-being.
  • Cooking is not just a coping mechanism. This new hobby has improved my overall health and well-being.

Examples of Well-Being in Writing

“DEEPAK CHOPRA™ MD, FACP, founder of the Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a whole health company at the intersection of science and spirituality.” (The Washington Post)

“Nearly half of the states in the U.S. saw their scores decline and zero states saw a significant improvement in well-being from 2016 to 2017, according to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index released Tuesday.” (USA Today)

Well-Being Synonyms

  • Welfare.
  • Security.
  • Wellness.
  • Comfort.
  • Safety.
  • Happiness.
  • Health.
  • Profit.
  • Success.
  • Prosperity. 

Well-Being is Correct

Is wellbeing one word or two? Generally, it’s one word but includes a hyphen. But in the UK and other English-speaking countries, wellbeing is acceptable. 

The term is synonymous with welfare and wellness. If you’re still unsure, go for well-being instead of wellbeing, no matter who your audience is!Learn more about hyphenated words like dead-set and shut-in for your writing.